Improved combined camp cot and chest



` condition for transportation.

UNITED" STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. GRIFFIN, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED COMBINED CAMP COT AND CHEST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 34,250, dated January 28, 1862.

T0 all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GRIFFIN, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Combination of Camp Cot and Chest; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference beinghad to theaccompanyin g drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents my invention by a perspective view, the cot being folded up in a Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same with the cot unfolded for use, the section being taken at the line x or of Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a cot and chest combined in such a manner in one article as that when the former is not required for use as a couch it can be folded up, with the bedding and bedclothes on top of and within the horizontal dimensions of the latter, which serves as a receptacle for clothing, books, or any other article which an army ofiicer or traveler usually requires to carry with him, the chest when the bed is unfolded for use as a couch forming the bedstead, whereby the sleeper is elevated above the ground a sufficient. distance to be protected from the dampness of the same in wet and unpleasant Weather.

The invention consists in having the mattress-frame formed in three sections, one of which equals the other two, and attaching this one by hinges to the chest, so as to form the cover for the same, to open in the usual manner, the mattress-frame, together with the bedding and bedclothes, to fold upon top of the chest when not in use as a couch, and the chest when the cot is used for sleeping upon forming the bedstead for the same, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents an oblong rectangular wooden box or chest, which may be put together in any of the usual modes of joinery, and is aboutl four feet in length and two feet or something less in width. Attached to the bottom of this chest on the under side and near each end are cleats B B', which raise it from and give it a rmer position on the ground and also allow a free circulation of air beneath it, and thereby prevent the articles in the chest from being affected by any water or dampnesswhich may be on the ground. l

The cover of the chest is formed by the middle section of the mattress-frame, which consists of two wooden rails a l), united together at their ends by metallic knees O C', which are attached to the rails by screws, or may be in any other suitable manner. This middle section of the mattress-frame corresponds exactly in dimensions with the surface dimensions of the chest, and is attached thereto at the back side by two or more hinges or joints, which allow the cover to be turned half-way over, or opened so as to be in line or iush with the top of the chest.

D D are the short sections of the mattressframe, which are attached to the ends of the middle section and cover of the chest by hinges, so as to fold up on top, where they meet in the center, and are fastened together by a hasp and staple or other suitable device. These short sections D D of the mattressframe are constructed exactly like the middle section E, exceptthat their outerends when the frame ispunfolded, which are their inner ends when folded, have end pieces of wood instead of metal. Mortised into these end pieces and supported upon the metallic knees at the opposite end of the frame are two or more metallic strips o, which are placed equidistant apart and extend parallel with the frame and are secured at their ends by rivets or screws. The middle section of the frame is also provided with similar metallic strips arranged in the same manner. These metallic strips form the support for the mattress or bedding F, which when in place is iiush with the top of the frame when unfolded, so thatwhen folded the two short sections will shut down tight on the middle section, with the bedding and bedclothes between them.

The under side of the end sections, which -is the upper side when folded, may be covered with some water-proof fabric to protect the bedding from wet in rainy weather.

The end section D forms the head of the bed, and is cut mitering where it joins the middle section, so as to give it an inclined position to forma pillow.

This invention is calculated for the use of the household as well as lthe army; but its compactness andl capacity for carrying articles of clothing, books, &c, make it particularl y adapted to the latter.

I do not claim, broadly, a folding bedstead irrespective of its construction and combination; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The Within-described combination of camp cot and chest, consisting of the three sections of mattress-frame D D E, hinged together so as to have the two former fold up compactly upon the latter when not in use as a couch, the latter forming a tight cover for the chest A and it a support or bedstead for the couch, the Whole arranged to operate in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

THOS. J GRIFFIN.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. GRIDLEY, J AMES LAIRD. 

